Giving you a greater say in your water company
WaterShare+ is a unique scheme that rewards our customers when we outperform and gives you a greater say in how we operate.
As part of the scheme, we offer our customers shares in our parent company, Pennon Group Plc, or money off your water bill.
So far, we have issued shares in 2020 and 2022, with 1 in 14 customers now shareholders in our business. We are incredibly proud that we now have a greater number of customer shareholders than any other shareholder group.
As well as this, the independent WaterShare+ Panel perform a vital role– they directly represent customers, meeting with us to challenge on performance, champion customer concerns, and provide assurance on our performance reporting. The Panel are designated as our Independent Challenge Group by our economic regulator, Ofwat.
You Said, We Did!
Everyone is invited – come along to The Panel’s public meetings!
The Panel’s public meetings are a great opportunity for you to engage and put your questions directly to our senior leadership.
Where these meetings occur in-person, we bring along staff from specialist teams so that you can learn more about your water. Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person though – many of the Panel’s public meetings are online.
1 in 14 customers are shareholders
Through this scheme, we give our customers a chance to become shareholders in our parent company Pennon - giving you a financial stake in your water company. If you don't take the shares, you get the money off your bill. In 2023, this was to the value of £13.
We've now got more customer-shareholders than investor-shareholders!
When we next run the scheme, there'll be more information about how you can get involved. Watch this space.
Meet the WaterShare+ panel
Chaired by Lord Matthew Taylor, The Panel is formed of eight members who act as advocates for local customers and other stakeholders. The panel members represent all of our supply areas, including Devon, Cornwall, Bristol, and Bournemouth.
Lord Matthew Taylor
Chair of WaterShare+ Group Panel
Matthew has championed environmental improvement and a stronger customer voice in the water sector over many years. He professionally advises Government, local authorities and the private sector on planning for sustainable communities, community engagement and the wider environment.
Peaches Golding OBE
Deputy Chair of WaterShare+ Group Panel and Chair of Bristol Water Challenge Panel
Peaches is His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Bristol. She is an experienced Executive and Non-Executive Board member in the private, public and charitable sectors and an Honorary Captain, Royal Naval Reserves.
Anthony Denham
Deputy Chair of Bristol Water Challenge Panel
After 35 years in the nuclear power industry, Anthony became a water customer champion by joining the Consumer Council for Water. Since 2015, Anthony has helped to lead the challenge on behalf of water customers in the South West.
Nick Buckland OBE
WaterShare+ Chair for the Devon region
Nick transitioned from a successful IT career to a diverse portfolio across voluntary, public, and private sectors. He was honoured with an OBE in 2009 and an Honorary Doctorate in Technology in 2013.
Dinah Cox OBE DL
WaterShare+ Deputy Chair for the Devon region
Dinah chairs Devon Community Foundation, and is a Non-Executive Director for Devon and Cornwall Police and advises the National Trust. Awarded an OBE in 2008, she champions the voices of vulnerable communities.
Carole Theobald
WaterShare+ Chair for the Cornwall region
Carole is Chief Executive of iSight Cornwall, with over 25 years of leadership experience in the public and charity sectors. She specialises in strategy, communications, and advocacy, with a strong track record in inclusive engagement and reputation management.
Ben Harper
WaterShare+ Deputy Chair for the Cornwall region
Ben is Chief Executive of the Watergate Bay group of companies, in Cornwall. Ben is a champion for business within the South West and his experience in customer focused businesses provides the panel with external insight and perspective.
Richard Lacey
WaterShare+ Chair for the Bournemouth region
Richard, a Chartered Civil Engineer with extensive UK and international water industry experience, supports Bournemouth Water customers through the WaterShare+ Panel, following his leadership during South West Water’s acquisition of the company in 2016.
Louise Coulton
WaterShare+ Deputy Chair for the Bournemouth region
Louise is a collaborative senior leader with 25+ years in financial services, including 14 in compliance. She champions ethical governance, regulatory integrity and consumer advocacy across public and social sectors.
Alison Thompson
WaterShare+ Co-Chair for the SES region, Co-Chair of the SES Customer and Environment Scrutiny Panel
Alison is a Chair and management consultant, a Board Advisor, and teaches at Cambridge University. She brings sharp commercial insight, with a strong focus on future customers and environmental sustainability.
Steve Crabb
WaterShare+ Co-Chair for the SES region, Co-Chair of the SES Customer and Environment Scrutiny Panel
Steve is a consumer affairs specialist who focuses particularly on ensuring that vulnerable households receive fair and accessible services. He has held senior roles at British Gas and the Alzheimer’s Society and is also an award-winning writer.
Your Water, your Say
The regulator Ofwat and CCW asked all water companies to hold a session called Your Water, Your Say to share our plans, including the challenges we're facing and the different ways we're working to deliver more for customers and the environment.
Please remember information on this web page in relation to the share alternative under the WaterShare+ scheme is information only and not recommendation or advice. You might wish to consult an authorised financial advisor.